Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Heavy monsoon showers unleashed widespread disruption across Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh, catalyzing a wave of emergencies that unfolded swiftly overnight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for several Telangana districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall between August 13 and 14, 2025, leading to flooded roads, overflowing rivulets, and severe waterlogging that paralyzed daily routines .

In Vijayawada, one of the worst-hit areas, continuous downpours raised water levels nearly three feet above road surfaces. Storm-drains under repair in One Town overflowed, tragically causing the deaths of two individuals. A 51-year-old man, Madhusudhana Rao, lost his life after falling into an open, rain-filled manhole, while Murthuza Ali, aged 38, succumbed after falling into an outfall drain near Gandhi Bomma Centre .  Manhole and drainage failures have since been flagged as the root cause, with local authorities facing illness of negligence for both incidents .

In response, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed authorities to ramp up precautionary measures, including continuous monitoring of Krishna River basin inflows and temporary relocations of vulnerable populations .Municipal Commissioner H.M. Dhyanachandra and Collector G. Lakshmisha conducted inspections of flood-prone zones, advising residents in low-lying localities like Gunadala, Krishna Lanka, and Ranigari Thota to evacuate to safer places .

Urban Development Minister P. Narayana, accompanied by officials, carried out checks in affected neighborhoods such as Vidyadharapuram, Budameru Bridge, and Gayatri Nagar. He lauded the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation for prior mitigation efforts and assured citizens that drainage obstructions would be cleared promptly. Emergency response teams have deployed pumps, and fifteen rehabilitation centers have been set up to shelter those displaced by the flooding . The minister also dismissed rumors that Budameru River would flood, assuring that the Chief Minister is personally overseeing relief operations .

Meanwhile, the IMD’s Amaravati centre escalated the weather alert—issuing an orange warning for coastal Andhra Pradesh and a yellow warning for Rayalaseema. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds ranging from 40 to 60 kmph are expected to persist, as the low-pressure system intensifies and moves inland over the Bay of Bengal region . In light of these developments, flood-control officials have opened seventy gates of Prakasam Barrage to manage rising Krishna River inflows, and set up dedicated emergency helplines and control rooms for citizen assistance (The New Indian Express). Considering the escalating threat of floods, the stat

e government has sanctioned ₹40 crore to expedite the completion of a utility tunnel linking the Budameru and Velagaleru systems, and irrigation authorities are exploring options to divert four TMC of excess water daily to nearby reservoirs like Somasila and Kandaleru. Additional strategies include pumping excess water from Kondaveeti Vagu and Paala Vagu into the Krishna River, and clearing silt and hyacinth from crucial canals .

As monsoon warnings remain high, authorities stress vigilance over panic, closely monitor river flows, reinforce embankments, and maintain active communication with local communities . The coming days are critical as the region braces for further rain and the cascading challenges it brings.